Smoking in pregnancy increases risk of premature birth threefold, study finds

Risk of smoking double the previous estimate, but research finds no link between above average caffeine intake and pre-term babies

Having bipolar made my pregnancy ‘high risk’. But all mothers deserve an elevated level of care

Pregnancy comes with mental health risk for all women. And so many of us downplay our own needs and wants once a baby is on the scene

Thursday briefing: What the UK’s first womb transplant means for the future of fertility

In today’s newsletter: does the UK’s first successful womb transplant mean that men could one day carry babies?

Manchester’s minority ethnic women to tell ‘untold stories’ of childbirth

Oral history project will preserve experiences, traditions and cultural practices of black and Asian mothers

Women with poor mental health ‘have 50% higher risk of preterm birth’

Study of more than 2m pregnancies in England found link between severity of mental health difficulties and adverse outcomes at birth

I’m doing the Edinburgh fringe at full-term pregnancy – and not just because I’d paid the deposit

Pregnancy is a privilege but is also weird, awkward and difficult. The cathartic nature of standup helps us consider the confusion of imminent parenthood

My sister is drinking heavily while pregnant. How can I help her stop?

Excessive alcohol consumption puts the baby at risk so she needs urgent professional support – but approach her with compassion

How early is too early to be discharged from hospital after giving birth?

A longer post-birth stay in the wards could help many mothers, even if research remains inconclusive

Matrescence by Lucy Jones review – smashing motherhood myths

A thrilling examination of what it means to become a mother challenges assumptions in bravura fashion

More than one in 10 women struggle to bond with their baby, survey shows

73% of surveyed women say they received no information on bonding in first weeks after giving birth